A renewed wave of attacks targeting herders in Plateau State has revived fears of another cycle of reprisals in a region long strained by ethno-religious tensions. On Wednesday evening, gunmen struck in Barkin Ladi and Jos East local government areas, rustling 168 cattle in coordinated assaults that left pastoral communities anxious and aggrieved.
According to the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the state, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, the first incident occurred around Nding community in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA, where 137 cattle were rustled.
A second attack followed in Kukukah community of Jos East LGA, where 34 cattle were driven away, although three later returned home.
The stolen cattle belonged to three herders: Alhaji Wada Sale, Abdullahi Yusuf and Alhaji Talba Abubakar. Babayo explained that he immediately contacted heads of security agencies, including the DSS, Operation Enduring Peace and other formations, as soon as information about the attack reached him.
Yet, less than 24 hours later, another disturbing incident was reported.
Nine cows died instantly after allegedly consuming poisonous substances around Kwi village in Riyom LGA.
The poisoning, reportedly deliberate, has intensified concerns among stakeholders who fear the region may slide deeper into retaliatory violence if urgent steps are not taken.
For months, conflict analyst and security expert, Zagazola Makama has consistently warned of a growing pattern of targeted attacks on herders in Plateau, often carried out in remote areas where response times are slow. investigations have shown how cattle rustling, ambushes and poisoning of livestock have, over the years, triggered violent reprisals that leave communities shattered. These early signs, if ignored, frequently escalate into full-blown crises.
This pattern is well-known. When attackers strike herders and rustle cattle, reprisals often follow in farming communities. That is how Plateau has remained trapped in a cycle of violence.
Despite repeated alerts from MACBAN, community leaders and reporters, many believe the Plateau State Government has not taken firm steps to confront the trend. Many worry that the state’s silence is widening the cracks in an already fragile landscape. Failure to prosecute perpetrators or strengthen preventive mechanisms has emboldened criminal actors who exploit the region’s fragile inter-communal relations.
Across Barkin Ladi, Jos East and Riyom, tension remains high. Pastoral families who lost cattle say the attacks threaten their livelihoods, while farmers fear the possibility of retaliatory violence. Zagazola warned that without intervention, extremism and bitterness could grow. Thursday’s poisoning of cows in Riyom an act seen as both provocative and dangerous has added another layer of anxiety.
As Plateau State enters the festive season, we hope that authorities will break the cycle of complacency and confront what many describe as a predictable and preventable chain of violence.
If not, the state risks yet another round of reprisals that could deepen long-standing divisions and further endanger rural communities.
